Portable hand tool



Jan- 3, 1956 J. w. EPPENSTEINER 2,729,424

PORTABLE HAND TOOL INVENTolg.

Jan. 3, 1956 J. w. EPPENSTEINER 2,729,424

PORTABLE HAND TooL.

Filed April 2, 1954 9 .94C o 276 '233 0'? 6 egf'qeea a6" 1w C 5' e JW1410 123 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 150 I ENToR.

Jam 3, 1956 J. w, EPPENSTEINER 2,729,424

PORTABLE HAND TOOL Filed April 2. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 m n f, www W, M,I. a a ig .i o 3% i m al A l 31% 33 3 v 3 e J 0., a 1% W i 04 3 a, 4 H ef g .0U do .vw M2 3% www vw 79 a, .y w d f M F w da @E 1 m w\\// m 1 u,i a, amr. s H m s 83 3 33 I ofwWQw04aW7aowav a, a, Fd. d .y E s 34 fz,@s a 31u I mi 33 J 00 SWW ,@WMIQ my@ 7 6 u 4 l q 0c @y ww w. m .ww wwmmmw aq 3e e 30 a /Wm Mf/ /l 80 90 9 9 0 n vwwa, 6a, J w f f 25g@ 0 l/ 1,1C18 rr f n a m m Mm Ww... .IH af hdl' WiL//M/v//Mf/Ww/MM\\\W\I\W.f\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ m 6 8 7 76 Jani- 3 195@ J. w.EPPENSTEINER 29729942@ PORTABLE HAND TOOL Filed April 2, 1954 INVENTOR..

Jan- 3 E95@ J. w. EPPENSTEINER 2,7299424@ PORTABLE HAND TOOL Filed April2, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f #97 14% E @nm .i295 300 23g i l I? "J Wal/w26 l Fens ti f ic 4275 I A' .U A m A1, an?

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5l-58 da@ @ZE/356723316172615 alza-7 BY United lStates Patent PORTABLEHAND TOOL John W. Eppensteiner, Woodbridge, N. J. Application April 2,1954, Serial No. 420,580

2 Claims. (Cl. 254-134.3)

This invention relates to portable hand tools and more particularly to ahand tool for laying an electrical conductor in a conduit.

It has long been the practice to lay electrical conductors in conduitsor pipes by means of a rod made in sections which were screwed together,one length of the rod being forced into the entrance end of the conduitand insertion of the rod continued by adding the required number ofsections jointed to the preceding section, or by means of fish snakewires made of hardened spring steel inserted in the outlet end of theconduit and forced therethrough to the other end of the conduit. Both ofthese methods are not only slow and tedious, as well as being verylaborious, but accident records show that a great number of injuries tothe operators result from the use of the fish snake wires.

Various attempts have been made to solve this problem of laying anelectrical conductor in a conduit, and aside from the jointed rods andsnakes, which are still in use, there have been proposed variousapparatus employing a projectile to which one end of a pilot wire issecured and paid out into the conduit as the projectile travels throughthe conduit, and various projecting means have been employed includingair and hydraulic pressure. However, in all known instances where suchapparatuses were proposed, the apparatus itself was large and bulky,relatively non-portable or would be so constructed as to be ofexceedingly limited use, that is, its employment could only be effectivein a limited number of given structural conditions. The principaldisadvantages of the prior devices, besides those already mentioned, arethat the guide wire was subject to breakage, that a conduit in which anumber of angular bends were present could not be readily traversed bythe device, and the device was incapable of universal application toelectrical conductor containing conduits. ,j

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide in a single,compact hand tool, the means whereby a guide wire may be projectedthrough a conduit to the other end thereof, an electrical cable or wirethen connected to the end of the guide wire now extending through theconduit and pulling the connected electrical cable or wire back throughthe conduit.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable hand toolwhich will quickly and eciently complete the electrical conductor layingoperation with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator, providesafer operation and eliminate the slow and laborious steps required withthe use of previous devices used for this purpose.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide aportable hand tool with which an angular adapter may be used to reachrelatively inaccessible conduit outlet ends, such as the outlet end of aconduit of a typical wall outlet box.

Another and still further object of this invention is to ll a recognizedneed for a portable hand tool by which a cable or wire for conductingelectricity may be laid in a conduit and in which the danger of breakageof the j 2,729,424 Patented `J an. 3, 19,56

Y. guide wire is minimized despite the number of angular 4 thereof asviewed from the rear of Figure l;

`Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure4;

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the handle or grip taken on line 66 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the reel taken on line 7-7of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view showing the front or head portion ofthe tool as applied to a conduit, the conduit being partially brokenaway to show the structure of the free end of the guide wire and themovable piece and its manner of connection to the free end of the guidewire;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view, partially in sideelevation, showing the angle head adapter and its manner of applicationto a conduit which has its outlet end opening into a conduit box;

Figure ll is a sectional view taken on line 11--11 of Figure l0;

Figure l2 is a sectional view showing the air inlet and switch therefortaken on line 12-12 of Figure 3;

Figure 13 is an elevational view showing the cams of the operating leverfor the air inlet of Figure 12 in one position;

Figure 13a is an elevational view similar to Figure 13 but showing thecams in a different position;

Figure 14 is a sectional view of the gear box, taken on line 14-14 ofFigure 3;

`Figure 15 is a sectional view similar to Figure 14 but takensubstantially from therear thereof and rotated 90 t from the position ofthe respective elements in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a partial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showing aportion of the gear box and particularly the clutch mechanism and theclutch tension adjusting screw;

`Figure 17 is a sectional view taken on line 1717 of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a sectional view of a portion of the reel showing theclutchoperating lever and the brake or drag means associated with thereel;

Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 19--19 of Figure 18;

Y ofFigure 18;

Figure 24 is a sectional view of a bearing for the reel shaft;

Figure 2S kis a sectional view taken on line 25-25 of Figure 3;

Figure 26 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the tool inwhich the source of power for operation of the reel is'providedmanually; i

Figure 27 is a sectional view taken on line 27-27 of Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a sectional view taken on line 2S- 128 of Figure 27;

Figure 29 is a sectional view taken on line 29,-.29 of Figure 26; and

Figure 3G is a partial end view of Figure 29 taken along the line 30-30of Figure 29.

With continued reference to the drawings, the portable tool of thisinvention generally comprises the separable sections A, B and C whichdefine the motor and handle section, reel section and air discharge orblowing section, respectively.

Considering rst the handle and motor section A, defining the supportingframe for sections B and C, and specically the structure of the handle,generally Aindicated at 10, the handle is of the pistol hand grip typenormally found on quarter inch and half inch electric drills and isprovided with. ,a separable Cover part, ,12 fastened to the U-shapedframe 13 by screws 16 to define. a hollow housing within which iscontained the usual electrical conductors leading from a power cable 18having a reinforcing cover 20 adjacent the point of entrance of thecable into the handle 10. The cable 18 is adapted to be connected at itsend remote from the tool to a source of electricity such as aconvenience outlet. The handle grip also has a spring biased triggerswitch 22 which,

when depressed against the bias of the spring 24, will cause operationof the toggle switch 26 whereby electrical current will be transmittedto the small electric motor 28 and may be maintained in the depressedoperative position by engaging the notch 30 on the trigger 22 securedupon the annular projection 32 carried by the handle 10 and extendinginwardly thereof. The pistol grip handle 10 employed with the portablehand tool of this invention, it will be seen, is a modified version ofthe typical pistol grip type handles redesigned so as to interfit withthe sections B and C.

The remainder of the motor and handle casing includes a pair Vofoppositely disposed divergent sides 34 and 36 as extensions of the frame13 and extending upwardly and outwardly from one end thereof remote fromthe end which is provided with an opening to receive -the cable 18. Thetop edge of each of the sides 34 and 36 is arcuately formed to match theradius o f rims 3 8 and 40 of the reel section B which are secured tothe frame 13 by the screws 42 passing through a central depending flange41 on a reel cross bar 43 carried by the rims 38 and 40 and extendingtherebetween.

The sides 34 and 36 extend laterally from the handle 10 with their loweredges 37 coplanar with the line of separation 39 between the top edge 17of the cover plate and the respective sides 34 and 36. The sides 34 and36 are further provided with structural frame vmembers Y44 and 46 inspaced relation as extensions of the respective sides. The frame member44 is shaped in the form of a right trapezium, the right angle of whichis formed by a partition wall 48 extending transversely between theniembers 44 and 46, and the lower edge 37 of the respective members 44and 46. The partition wall 48 separates .the motor housing area 47 andthe gear case area 4 9.

The remainder of the casing for the section A consists of a generallycylindrical housing 50 for the motor28 and consists of a circular sidewall 5 2 and a separately formed end wall or cap 57 remote from thepartition Wall 48 having an inwardly directed annular flange 55 whichmates with the side Wall 52, and which end wall or cap defines the otherend wall of the motor housing 50. The frange 13, sides 34 and 36, framemembers 44 and 4 6 and the motor housing 50 are cast or otherwise formedas a single piece and is preferably made `of aluminum or sorne otherlight weight metal alloy.

A removable vgear case cover 54 is secured on the frame member 44 by dplurality of screws 56 to provide access to the gears in the gear casedefined by the casing member generally indicated at 45, of righttrapezium form disposed within and transversely of the frame members 44,46 and carried thereby to define a gear casing.

It should be observed that the partition wall 48 is provided with anopening 51 to permit the electrical cable 19 to pass therethrough afterpassing through a similar opening 53 provided in one leg 33 of astructural frame member 46 remote from the partition wall 48 to connectthe motor 28 to the cable 18 with the toggle switch 26 interposedbetween the cable 18 and the motor 28 to effect selective operation ofthe motor.

The motor drive shaft 58 extends from opposite sides of the motor 28,thus the motor 28 is of the double-ended drive shaft type, and the shaftend projecting from the side of the motor adjacent to the partition wall48 extends through a bronze bearing sleeve 60 protruding throughthe'partition wall 48 and ycarried by the gear case 45 so that the driveshaft 58 extends within the gear case area 49 and carries on the endthereof within the gear case 4S a Worm 62 to mesh with a worm gear 64which is fastened upon a shaft 66 by a set screw 68 carried in a hub 70of the worm gear 64. As clearly s hown in Figures 14 and l5, the wormgear shaft 66 is journaled at its opposite ends in the gear case frontcover 72 and the gear case back cover 74 respectively in similar brassbearings 76 carried by the respective front and back covers. The wormgear 64 is preferably made of brass.

An idler gear, preferably made of brass, is indicated by the referencenumeral 7 8, and is provided with a h ub 79 in which a set screw 80 iscarried so that the idler gear 79 may be secured upon the worm gearshaft 66 in spaced relation to the worm ygear 64 and will rotate withthe shaft 66 as Vrotation is imparted to the worm gear 64 by Jthe worm62 on the end of the motor drive shaft 58. A collar 82 is carried by theshaft 66 adjacent the bearing 76 carried 'by the front cover 72 and issecured on the shaft 66 by aset screw 83 to limit end play of the shaft66. v (See'Figs. 3, 14, 1 5 and 16.)

'Ihe idler gear 78 meshes with and is adapted to rotate the gear 84which is secured on a shaft 86 which remains stationary as it is rivetedto the rear cover 74 through its outer flange or hub 88. Shaft 86 is inspaced parallel relation to the worm wheel shaft 66 and is laterallyOffset therefrom- Gear 84 is held -in place on the shaft 86 by means ofa small tapered pin v90 (Figure 17) which ts into a hole 91 Ain thev'hub'92 of the gear 84 and the shaft 86 has a slight concave recess 93about its circumference at the point where the tapered pin 90 fits intothe hole 91 so that the'pin 90 tits in the recess 93 when inserted intothe hpb 9 2 to prevent the gear 84 from moving on the shaft 8 6. Thegear 8.4 may be termed the main clutch gear for a reason which willsubsequently appear.

The main cintoh gear 84 is provided with an elongated hub 94 formedintegrally therewith and carried on the shaft 86, the hub V94`e7ttjent1ing from the main clutch gear 84 in a direction away fromthe hub .92, or from the side of the main clutch gear 84 adjacent thegear case front cover 7 2. The hub 94 extends through the front cover 72, an opening 95 being provided in the cover 72 for this purpose, and-enteritis outwardly beyond the outer face of the' cover 72 or the sidethereof remote from the gear 84. I he end of the vhub 94 is providedwith external threading 96 `to Or e :ce iv e a steel adjusting screw nut98. A brass lntch slipping gear 100 is mounted for rotation upon anenlarged portion 102 of the elongated hub 94 'adjacent the main clutchgear 84 and is spaced from the gear 84 by a friction disc plate 104 alsocarried on the raised @enlarged portion of .the hub 94 and fittingwithin :tn annularrecess 1 06 and being of such thickness as to pre'vent gears 84 and 100 from contacting each other. The slipping gear100 is also provided with an annular recess 108 in the4f'acetliereofrremote from the main clutch gear 84. A composition,.clutch disc 110 similar to the disc plate 104, the clutch discs 104 and110 preferably being made of asbestos or some similar materialpossessing equivalent properties, is carried on the shaft 86 andisreceived in the recess 108. The recesses 106 and 108 forthe frictiondiscs`104 and 110 respectively are so made as to prevent the atteningOut or spreading of these composition parts under pressure exerted bythe adjusting screw nut 98 when it is tightened, thus giving much longerlife to the clutch friction discs. A brass clutch pressure disc or plate112 is carried by the elongated hub 94 adjacent the face of the frictionclutch disc 110 remote from the slipping gear 100 and of a slightlylesser diameter than the diameter of the clutch disc 110. Inter-posedbetween the pressure plate 112 and the gear case front cover 72 is afelt washer 114 carried on a brass collar or sleeve 116 circumposedabout the hub 94 and interposed between the adjusting screw nut 98 andthe pressure plate 112. The purpose of the felt washer V114 is toprevent lubrication leakage around the slight clearances through theside of the gear case front cover 72 occasioned by the opening 95therethrough.

It will be noted that the sleeve 116 fits on the hub 94 of the gear 84between the brass pressure plate 112 and the nut 98 so that when the nut98 is turned clockwise on the hub 94, pressure is transmitted throughthe collar 116 to the pressure plate 112 and thence to the remainder ofthe clutch parts so as to have the friction disc 104 engage adjoiningfaces of the gears 84 and 100 as the friction disc 110 is moved bytheaction of the nut 98 against the collar 116 and the pressure plate 112.With the friction clutch discs tightened against the respective faces ofthe gears 84 and 100, rotation'imparted to the idler gear '78 will betransmitted to the main clutch gear 84 and t0 the slip gear 100. Thegear 117 extends partially through anti-burning friction an opening 118in the gear case 45 and is adapted to mesh with the gear 100. The gear117 is carried on a shaft 126 journaled at its opposite ends in therespective front and rear casing covers 72 and 74 and is adapted to meshwith a larger gear 122 of the reel section B t0 impart turning orrotating motion to the reel.

In order to transmit rotational movement to the reel, adjusting screwnut 98, which is provided with an external hex socket of the Allen type,is tightened or rotated in a clockwise direction to have the clutchfriction discs engage the respective adjoining faces of the gears 84 and100,

so that whenever the electric motor 28 is operating, motion from themotor drive shaft 58 will be transmitted through the gear train in thegear case housing and thence to the reel section B. Y

The adjusting screw nut 98 is adapted to fit through a hole 124 in thegear case cover 54 so that it can be externally operated at all times tomake the necessary clutch slippage adjustment. In other words, in orderfor the reel section B to rotate in response to motor operation, theadjusting screw nut 98 mustirst be tightened so that the clutcharrangement will insure .transmission of the power from the motor 28 tothe 'gear 122I of the reel section B.

Referring again to the gear 117 mounted on the' shaft 120 which extendsin spacedparallel relation to the clutch gear shaft 86 and on the sidethereof remote from the worm gear shaft 66, it will be noted that theshaft 120 is laterally offset with respect to the shafts 66 and 86 andhas bearings 126 and 128 carried by the front andrear covers, 72 and 74respectively, to receive the opposite ends -ofthe shaft 120. Also, acollar l130 is carried by the shaft 120 in abutting relation with thebearing .126 and is locked on the shaft 120 by a set screw 132. A4similar collar 134 is also provided on the shaft 120 adjacent the gear117 and is secured thereon by a set screw. A pair of similar feltwashers 136 and 138 is carried on the shaft 120 and disposed, one ateither side of the gear ,117, with the felt `washer 136 interposedbetween the collar 134 and 4the gear 117 while the felt washer 138 isdisposed between the bearing 128 and the gear l117 to keep lubricationlosses from the gear box to a minimum.V

The reel section B generally comprises the pair of circular sidehousings or rims 38 and 40 which are preferably of aluminum or magnesiumor similar light weight metal or alloy, a cable drum upon which is wounda guide cable or wire 141, a plurality of spreader or spacer bars 142extending between the side housings and secured thereto at theiropposite ends at spaced locations about the respective housings 38 and40 adjacent the periphery thereof, and a front cable guide piece 144secured at one end upon the respective housings 38 and 40 and extendingoutwardly therefrom toward the air discharge section C and secured tothe section C. The cable guide is preferably made of chrome plated steelto withstand the pulling force of the guide cable or wire 141 as well asto resist breaking due to dropping of the tool or rough usage thereof. j

The cable or reel drum 140 is mounted on a shaft 146 journaled at oneend centrally in the housing 40 in a bearing assembly, generallyindicated at 148 and at its other end in a bearing assembly, generallyindicated at 150, carried centrally in the side housing 38.

The cable drum 140 is cast as a one-piece steel unit and machined to theshape shown in the drawings and includes a pair of spaced parallel sidewalls 152 and 154 secured on the shaft 146 and has a hub 156 extendingtherebetween with shaft 146 disposed centrally of the hub 156. The guidecable or wire 141 is wound upon the hub 156 and contained thereonbetween the side walls 152 and 154 since the hub 156 is of considerablysmaller diameter than the diameter of the side walls between which itextends in coaxial relation thereto. Side walls 152 and 154 are of anarrow width, are circular in form and diverge outwardly from theircenters to their circumference. The peripheries of each of the sidewalls are turned outwardly, that is away from the hub 156 and toward theside housings 38 and 40 to define annular laterally projecting lips 158and 160 respectively. The annular lip 158 extends partially within anannular recess 162, as clearly seen in Figure 4. A similar recess 164 isformed in an inwardly directed flange 166 formed integrally with theside housing 38.

The shaft 146 extends beyond the side walls 152 and 154 to be journaledn the bearing assemblies 148 and respectively. That portion of the drumshaft 146 which extends beyond side wall 154 to one side of the tool,which may be termed the left side of the tool as viewed when lookingfrom the handle end toward the air discharge section C, may beconsidered as a shaft extension 169. As best seen in Figures 4 and 18,the gear 170 is mounted for rotation upon the drum shaft extension 169and is laterally shiftable therealong by means of a forked actuatingplate 172, the forked end of which lits in a groove 174 cut in the gear170. The other end of the actuating plate 172 is secured to the sidehousing 38 by aplurality of screws 176 and has a spring 178 circumposedabout each of the screws 176 and interposed between the actuating plate172 and the side housing 38 which tends to hold the plate in a rigidposition. Intermediate the ends of the actuating plate 172 and closelyadjacent to the end thereof but remote from the gear 170, there isprovided an integrally formed hub 180 having an internally cut femalespiral gear thread into which is screwed the control lever shaft 182journaled for rotation in a brass insert bushing 184 in the side housing38. The end of the control lever shaft 182 which is received in theinternally cut female spiral gearing of the hub 180 is formed withexternal male spiral gearing 186 so as to mate with the internal gearthreading into which it is screwed. The end of the control lever shaft182 remote from the hub 180 and extending exteriorly of the side housing38 is provided with splines 188 onto which is received the lower hubbedend 190 of a control lever 192.

The hubbed end 190 is provided with Va V splinel opening therein so'asVto'be received on the splined`end'188`ofwtli shaft, 182 and issecured'wi'th therespectiv splines in their mating position byA a screw194 extending'into a suitable tapped hole provided in the end of theshaft 182. Thegcarpitch ofthe spiral gearing threads 186 on the shaft182 and matching the internal spiral gearing threads inthe hub 180 onthe actuating plate 172 should be great enough to give sucient movementto the actuating plate when the operating handle 192 moves approximately45 along the outer reel rim or housing 38 from free position to the pullposition to move the actuating plate toward and away from the sidehousing 38 and thereby cause movement of the gear 170 longitudinally ofthe shaft extension 169 so that in the pull position the actuating platewill be moved away from the side housing 38v carrying the gear 170therewith in the same direction'and to the sameextent to cause couplingmeans to be presently described to engage and thereby impart rotationalmovement to the drum shaft 146. Movement of the handle from the pull tothe free position will cause the gear 170 to move in the oppositedirection and uncouple'the coupling means so that the drum shaft 146will be free to rotate in its bearing assemblies 148 and 15).

`Defining the coupling means, one end of the gear 170 is provided with apair of perpendicularly crossed notches 196 and 19,8 (Figure 22) tomatch with mating perpendicular-ly crossed ridges 199 and 200 on theface of the side wall 154 of the cable drum 149 so that upon movement ofthe control lever 192 from the free to the pull position, the ridges orproyections 199 and 200 will mate with the respective notches 196 and198, so that rotational movement imparted to the gear 170 may betransmitted through this coupling arrangement to the reel drum 140. SeeFigures 18, 19 and 22.

'To aid in keeping the operating handle or control lever 192 inl eitherposition, an inner collar 282 (see Figure 23) carried on the controllever shaft extension 182 adjacent the inner face of the side housing 38is provided with notches 293 and 264 in the periphery thereof for eachof the positions of the operatingilever, and into which notches slips abluntly rounded pin 286 under the pressure of a spring 208 Ahoused in adepending boss 2111 on a rib 2141. This arrangement will prevent thecontrol lever from moving once it has been placed in either o f the freeor pull positions until such time as the operator desires to change thecontrol lever position by manually moving it from one position to theother.

Rib 211 extends `generally transversely of the side housing or rim 38and projects outwardly therefrom to generally follow ,the contour of thegears 12,2, 168 and 170 and along with a complementarily formed rib 212defines a gear housing 214 which not only includes the gearsY 1,;22, 168and 170 therein but also encloses the forked actuating plate 172 and itsshaft 182 and associated parts. V'The iner side of Vthe gear housingV*21,4 is -enclosed bya gear cover plate 216 and is secured to .the gearhousing 214 by screws 218, as shown in vFigur/e l2. The heads f thescrews 218 being received in conntersunk ,recesses provided in the outer`face of thegear rhousing 42,14 so that the outer surface of the gearhousing willpresent a smooth surface without projections due to the boltheads extending therefrom.

The gear 168 is secured on a stub shaft 2211 within the gearV housing214, the shaft 226 b eing jonrnaled dat one end yin the outery wall 215of the gear housing ina suitable Vbronze or brass bushing and at itsother end in the gear cover plate 216. This gear mounting is lclearlyshown in Figure 25. The gear 122 is similarly mounted upon a short shaft222 journaled at one cnd in the outer wall 215 and at 4the other end inthe gear cover plate 216 so as to be interposed lbetween the gears 117and gear 168 and in Vmesh with both of these gears'. v

In iorder to provide a slight drag on the reel or cable drum-'140when-the control v-lever 192 is in the Mirco?? position 4so @s `to,prevent backlash during the paying out o f 'the lguide cablor wire 141,there is provided .a brake mechanism which consists of a brass springarm 224 secured at one end ori-the terminal end jof the control armshaft 182 remote from the control lever 192, screw 226 passing vthrougha suitable opening in the arm 224 and receivedin a threaded hole in theend face of the control lever shaft -so that the spring arm 224 will bemounted to move with the shaft 182 in response to manual movement of fhe control lever 192. The other end of the spring arm v224 is providedwith a rubber tip 228 received in a recess 330m the flange 166. The rearwall 332 is angular-ly disposed with respect to the plane of therearvface 23,4 of'the ange 166 so as to define a cam surface-against whichthe rubber tip 228 may be moved so as `to rub -thereagainst when movedinto the positionshown in broken lines in Figure 19 in response to themovement of the control lever to the free position. rThis contactingposition of the tip 228 upon the camming surface 332 vis clearly shownin Figure 20. Thus, it will Abe seen that when the control lever ismoved to the ffree position, the braking means in the form of the springarm 224 and the rubber tip 228 carried thereby will contact the outerface of the cable drum side wall 154 by .riding on the cam surface 332and actually being in contact with the annular lip of the side wall 154.When the cont-rol lever 192 is moved to the pull position, thevspringarm-224 will move therewith and since the inherent resilience of the springarm is so biased as to bear against the camming surface 332, the rubbertip 22S earriedby the spring arm 224 will move along the cammingsuraceto a position where it no longer contacts the annular .lip v160 underthe spring bias of the arm 224, as clearly shown at the lower end of therecess 330 in Figures 19 and 20. From the foregoing, it will be apparentthat there has Abeen provided a brake means which-will move with thecontrol lever so as to exert a slight braking pressure against the reelor cable drum 140 when the ydrum 140 is in its freely rotatableposition, that is with the coupling means provided by the notches 196and 19.8 and Vthe ridges 199 and 200 being disconnected. And when thecontrol lever 192 is moved tothe pull position, the brake means willmove therewith so as to .be out of contact with the cable or reel drum141), .hence there will be no braking action when the coupling means ismoved to its connected position whereby the rotational mvement impartedto the gear will'betransmitted to .the cable drum 140 through the trainof gears from vthe worm 62 at the end of the motor drive shaft 58 to theygear 170 laterally shiftable upon the shaft extension 169 by thecontrol means, lever 192 and actuatingplate 172.

-With reference to Figure 7, it will be seen that the spacer pr spreaderbars 142 are of hollow tubular construction and vare .provided withinternal threads at the opposite ends lthereof `to receive screws 236passing through .the `respectiveside rims or housings 38 and 40 inlcountersunk .holes so .as to lsecure the bars 142 between the siderimsor housings 38 and 40.

The front cable guide piece 144, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and .3,includes a front wall 238 disposed centrally of the .tool or along itslongitudinal center line and upon the wall 4.6rof `the gearcase 45 atits juncture with the partition wall 4.8. Extending rearwardly indivergent relation-arelarpairof .upper-armst) and 242 which terminate inspaced parallel 'ng'ers :244 Aand 246 respectively. The tingers '2.4.4-and246 `are provided with aligned openings therethrough .which are `inregister with openings in the side housings 38 Iand 40 `so`as to receivescrews 248 whereby -the front cable yguide piece 144 is secured upon thereelsection IIB. Also,thefront wall 238 has integrally Alormed therewithspaced downwardly and rearwardly extending A'arms A250'and which are indivergent relation to each Aother and generally inclined downwardlyalong -tl1e-top of the wail'memb'er 46 lof vthe gear case 45, and thearms 250 and 252 are provided with laterally extending fingers 254 and256 respectively, each of which are provided with suitable aperturestherethrough in register with threaded holes in the respective sidehousings 38 and 40 so as to receive screws 258 to further secure thefront cable guide piece 144 to the reel section B.

With particular reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the frontwall 238 is provided with an opening 260 which leads into an annularrecess 262 provided in the face of the front wall 238 remote from thereel section B and identied by the reference numeral 264. The annularrecess 262 is internally threaded to receive a hardened steel insertscrew 263 which has an opening centrally longitudinally therethrough topermit passage of the pulling cable 141. The end of this screw facingreel drum 140 is rounded oif to permit easier winding up of the cable141 and to prevent excessive wear at this point.

The upper leg 276 of the body, generally indicated at 278, of the airdischarge section C has a pair of spaced, parallel laterally extendingears 266 and 268 extending perpendicularly thereto and abutting thefront face 264 of the front wall 238. Each of these ears is providedwith an opening therethrough to register with respective tapped openingsin similar spaced, external bosses 270 on the side wall 52 of the motorhousing 50 to receive countersunk steel machine screws 272 to furthersecure the front cable guide piece 144 in place on the tool. It shouldbe noted, that the ears 266 and 268 are disposed along the lower edgeofthe leg 276 and at the lower end of the front wall 238 or adjacent theend from which the lower arms 250 and 252 diverge. At the upper end ofthe front wall 238 and projecting laterally therefrom is a centralplate-like flange or reel cable guide piece extending perpendicularlyfrom the front face 264 to overlap leg 276 at a boss 274, the plate-likeilauge being identified by the reference numeral 273, formed on theupper leg 276 of the body, generally indicated at 278. A machine screw280 secures the upper leg 276 to the ange 273 of the front cable guidepiece 144 by passing through a suitable countersunk hole in the flange273 and into a registering tapped opening in the top of the boss 274.This is the only fastening of the reelguide frame to the tool body. p

The body 278 is generally L-shaped and overlies the motor housing 50with the upper leg 276 disposed centrally along the top thereof, asclearly seen in Figure 1, to define a guide tube through which the freeend of the guide cable 141 can pass the front leg 282 centrallyoverlying the end wall 57 of the motor housing 50. The front leg 282 isprovided with a pair of laterally extending plates 284 and 286 whichoverlie the end wall 57 and extend from opposite sides of the front leg282. 4Each of the plates 284 and 286 are provided with suitablecounter-Y sunk openings therethrough to register with tapped openings285 in the end wall 57 to receive screws 287 in the registering openingsto secure the body 278 on the end wall 57 of the motor housing 50. Theupper leg 276 is provided with a central bore 288 longitudinallytherethrough in communication with the recess 262 at its inlet end sothat the guide cable or wire 141 may be received therein. The outlet endportion of the bore 288 Vremote from the end which opens into the recess262 is somewhat enlarged as at 290. A packing gland 292, prefere ablymade of neoprene rubber, fits tightly into the enlarged portion 290 ofthe guide wire bore or passage 288 and is held in place and its fitting`around the guide wire or cable 141 is adjusted by a packing gland screw294 which is preferably slotted across its head to provide easyadjustment and removal and is received and threadingly carried at theend of the enlarged portion 292 of the bore 288 in internal threadsprovided at this end.

The packing gland screw 294 is provided with au opening` 296longitudinally therethrough to permit the guide wire 141 to passtherethrough and into the nose piece 298 l 324 and rotatable therewithin removably threaded into a socket 300 formed at the forward end of thebody 278 and at the juncture of the upper and front legs 276 and 282respectively thereof. The packing gland 292 and its adjusting screw294-provde an airtight seal about the guide wire or cable 141 to preventair pressure loss and blowback through the bore 288 -during the blowingor air discharge operation and yet will not offer too much resistance tohinder the rewind operation of the reel section B.

It will be noted that a sealing washer 302 is interposed between thenose piece 298 in the outer end of the socket 300 so as to prevent or atleast minimize the escape of air at this point. The nose piece 298 isprovided with a central bore 304 longitudinally therethrough so as to bein communication with the bore'288 through the upper leg 276 of the body278 in order to permit the guide cable or wire 141 to have a continuouspassage through the tool from the cable or reel drum 140 on which it iswound to the end of the bore 304 in the nose piece 298 remote from thecable drum 140. In addition, the nose piece 298 is provided with afrusto-conical ring 306 of comparatively soft rubber composition aboutits front end and is secured thereon in a recess 308 provided in thenose piece at its end remote from the socket 300.

The front leg 282 defines an air conduit and is provided with alongitudinal air passage 30S which intersects and is in communication atits upper end with the bore 304 at the end of the bore 288 in'the upperleg 276 adjacent the nose piece 298 and forming an air chamber adjacentthe connecting ends of the legs. The lower end of the air passage 308 isin communication with a source of compressed air, not shown, supplyingair under pressure to the air chamber through a finger operated airvalve, generally indicated at 310, and an air hose 312 which isdetachably connectible upon a threaded nipple 314 by a quick snap-ontype safety air hose connector 316, as best shown in Figure 3. Thus,there is provided an eifective air propulsion means connected incommunication with the guide tube 276 adjacent the outlet end thereoffor forcibly propelling the free end of the guide cable 141 out of theoutlet end of the guide tube and into a conduit.

With reference to the air valve 312, as shown in Figures 3, 12, 13 and13a, there is shown the type of air valve in which a linger operated airvalve lever 318 is normally spring urged, by the spring 320, into an offposition wherein the valve body 322 is seated in the end of the airpassage 308 so as to prevent air under pressure from entering into thepassage 308. The air valve lever 318 is secured upon a shaft or pin 324rotatably journaled in the side of the valve 310. Also mounted on theshaft response to the movement of the lever 318 is a ilat circular camwheel or plate 326 which extends within the valve 310. The cam plate 326is a raised arcuate cam ridge 328, against the inner surface of which apin 334 bears, and the pin 334 projects e laterally from the valve stem336.

As clearly shown in Figures l2 and 13, as the air valve lever 318 ismoved from the olf to the on position,

through openings 340 in laterally projecting, circumferentially spacedlugs or ears 342 formed on the end wall or cover 57, as clearly shown inFigure 5. A plurality otA external bosses 344 are formed on the sidewall 52 in circumferentially spaced relation and are provided withcentral tapped openings which register with the openings 340 in the lugs342 to receive the threaded portion of the screw s338 -therebysecuringthe end wallor plate 57 to th`e sidewall 52 of Vthe motor housingt).

As vpreviously .mentibned, thedrive shaft 8 extends from both sides ofthe motor 28. That portion of the motor drive shaft which extends fromthe left hand side of the motor as viewed in Figure 3, or towards theend wall l57, will be identified by the reference numeral 59 and isjournaled in a bearing 348 carried by the end wall or plate 57 at itsend remote from the motorl 28. Mounted on the motor drive shaft 59 forrotation therewith is a vane wheel 350 vspaced from the end of thebearing 348 by a collar 352. The vane wheel 350 carries a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced, angularly disposed vanes 356 carried in acircular cage 358 which in turn is carried by spokes 360 radiating fromthe hub 362 which is se cured upon the motor drive shaft S9. The vanewheel 350, in effect, defines an exhaust fan which will operate when themotor 28 is energized to cause rotation of thc reel section B in therewinding operation so as to provide an air cooling means for the gearswhich transmit the rotational power from the motor 28 to the reel orcable drum-140. ln order for the exhaust fan to be effective, thepartition wall 48 is provided with a plurality of openings 364therethrough and exhaust vent ports 366 areprovided in side wall S2adjacent the flange S5 of the end wall 57 so that a flow of air will becontinuous from the intake ports 367 in the gear case wall 46 and fromgear case 45 and the gear housing 214 so that the gears contained inthese housings will not become unduly heated during the rewindingoperation.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the tool of this invention is adapted to beapplied to one end of a conduit 368 normally provided with an end flange370, the end of the conduit 368 to which the tool is to be appliednormally passing 'through a wall or similar structure 372.

The soft rubber nose or ring 306 is inserted into the opening in theflange 370 and is pressed therein so as to form an etfective air seal atVthis point. The guide cable or wire had been first placed in theconduit 368 with the rubber ball 374 attached to the free end thereof.The diameter of the rubber ball 374 is of approximately the samediameter as the interior diameter of the conduit in which it is placed,and it will be appreciated that the diameter of the rubber ball orblowing ball 374 will be made smaller or larger in accordance with thediameter of the conduit to which it is to be applied. Passing centrallythrough the ball 374 is a wire 376 provided atk the ends thereof witheyes 378 and 380 exteriorly of the ball 374. A pair of curved metalwashers 382 are carried by the wire 376 so as to be placed between theball 374 and the eyes 378 and 380 respectively and conforming to thecurvature of the ball at this point and closely overlying the ball toprevent the rubber ball 374 from losing its shape and also to preventeither of the eye ,hooks 378 and 380 from pulling through the ball 374during the blowing or air discharge operation. The free end of the wire141 extending within' the conduit 368'is provided with an eye hook 384so'thatV the eye hook connecting piece or connector 386 will define asecuring means between the free end of the guide cable or wire 141 andthe blowing ball 374. It will be appreciated that ball 374 could havewire 376 formed at one end with a safety type hook or connector toreplace the eye hook 378 so that the blowing ball 374 could be snappeddirectly onto the eye 384, and thereby eliminate the necessity for theconnector 386.

A Withthe tool in the position shown in Figure 8 with the blowing ball374 disposed within the conduit 368 and secured to the free end of theguide wire 141, the control lever 192 is moved to the free position andthe air valve lever 318. is moved from the "ofF to the on position topermit air pressure to pass from the hoseV 312 int ihair Passage 33.8.and into the air Chamberl formed ie .air -discllaraeseaiva @diecast the@named @Das of' the legs 276 and 282 to be discharged out of the bore3Min thenose piece298. kThis builds a pressure behind the ball-374tofthercby project the ball 374 through the conduit 368. As the lball374 is projected by the pressure of the air behind it through theconduit, the guide wire -141 secured thereto will be payed out in theconduit since the reel drum is free to rotate. When the ball 374 emergesfrom the other end of the conduit, not shown, remote from the end towhich the tool has been applied, the blowing ball 374 will be disengagedfrom the guide vwire 141 and an electrical conductor, which may be anelectric wire or cable, is secured to the eye hook 384 at the end of thewire or cable 141. The removal of the ball 374 prior to the rewinding ofwire 141 will reduce friction during the rewinding operation.

The tool is now ready to reel in the guide wire or cable 141. In orderto set the tool for this reeling in or rewinding operation, fingerpressure is released from the air valve lever 318 thereby shutting offthe ow of air pressure to the tool, the control lever 192 is moved fromthe-free to the pull position, and the clutch adjusting screw 98 istightenedorrotated in a clockwise direc tion to have the clutch frictiondiscs 104 and 118 engage the respective faces of the gears 84 and 100 sothat rotational movement from the motor 28 may be transmitted to thereel drum 140. The trigger switch 22 is then moved so as to causeenergizing of the motor 28 which will drive the reel drum 140 in themanner hereinbeforc described and at the same time will cause operationof the exhaust fan 350. Thus, the reel drum 140 will be rcwound so as toreel in the guide wire or cable 141 which will carry the electricalconductor secured to the free end thereof to be laid in the conduit 368and the operation will, ofi course, cease when the free end of the guidewire or cable 141 is again adjacent the nose piece 298, at which timethe tool may be removed from the end of the conduit and the electricalcable pulled through at this end for connection to a switch or otherelectrical part after it has been detached Vfrom the hook eye 384.

The source of compressed air to which the hose 312 is connected Vmay bea small tank which would contain a sufiicient supply required for theshort air blasts necessary to blow the ball 374 from one end of theconduit to the other. The type of compressed air tank used for this toolis the readily available commercial type, easily portable and readilyrefilled at any filling station which has an air supply hose, or may beattached to an air compressor mounted on a truck if such is available bythe contractor installing the electrical wiring of the structure.

It will be realized that the size of the tool and the power of theelectric motor 28 will be increased where electrical conductors are tobe laid in large size conduits.

With reference to Figures 10 and 1l, there is shown an angle head,generally indicated at 400 designed for use in small outlet boxes, suchas the outlet box 402 where the end of a conduit 404 could not bereached by the nose piece 228. rIhe angle head 400 comprises a straighttubu lar section 4,076, an elbow 408 threadedly secured to one end ofthe tubular section 40.6; the other end of the elbowl 40.8 threadinglyreceives a tubular section 410 disposed in a Plane, normal to the planeof the tubular section 406, and the end of the tube 410 remote from theelbow 408 has threaded thereon a socket 412 into which maybe screwed anose piece 414 similar to the nose piece 298.

'Ifherend of the straight tube 406 remote from the elbow 408` is in theform of an enlarged head 416 having an externally threaded nipple 418extending therefrom at the side thereof remote from the tube 406. Thenipple 418 is adapted to be, received in the socket 300 after the nosepiece 2,9 8 has been removed therefrom. A heavy washer 420,ma devoftough rubber is held between a pair o f similar captive; washers A422-on the nipple 418 and is arrivons. between. the .over Lals@ Qf theSocket 300 andv fas 316341414@ permit-.the tatuaggi theatrale head; 40,0into any position for easier use with hard-to-get-at conduitsin outletboxes and still prevent loss of air and not weaken the tool during therewinding operation.

The elbow 408 is provided with a removable center cap 424 secured on theelbow 408 by screws 426. The purpose of the removable center cap 424 isto allow for rapid threading of the guide cable or wire 141 over theconcave roller 428 having a hub 430 extending from either side thereofto act as spacer washers so as to maintain the grooved roller 428centrally within the opening in the elbow 408 since the hubs 430 extendfrom the opposite sides of the -roller and bear against the interior ofthe wall of the elbow 408 and each of the hubs 430 have pins 432extending centrally therefrom to be received in openings 434 so as tojournal the roller 428 in the side wall of the elbow 408. The openings434 in the side wall of the elbow 408 are axially aligned and areprovided in diametrically opposite portions of the side wall so that theroller 428 will run true and rotate about an axis perpendicular to thelongitudinal axes of the tubular sections 406 and 410.

The nose piece 414 has a sealing washer -436 inter posed between the endof the socket 412 remote from the tube 410 and the head 438 of the nosepiece 414. As in the case of the nose piece 298, there is also providedon the nose piece 414 a frusto-conical ring or nose 440 which is adaptedto t into the ange 442 provided on the end of the conduit 404terminating within the conduit box 402 so as to form an airtight sealtherewith as in the case of the nose piece 298 and the ilange 370 of theconduit 368.

The guide cable or wire 141 will be threaded through the straighttubular section 406 and around the concave roller 428 journaled in theelbow 408 and thence through the straight tubular section 410 andthrough the nose piece 414 so that its free end terminates within theconduit 404. As in the previous case, the rubber blowing ball 374 willbe secured to the free end of the guide cable or Wire 141 and theblowing and rewindingoperations will proceed as described with referenceto the tool operation when the angle head or adapter 400 is not used.

It should be noted in connection with the rewinding operation that thebraking means defined by the spring arm 224 and the rubber tip 228carried thereby will be moved to its non-operative position when thecontrol lever 192 is correspondingly moved so that the drag placed onthe reel drum 140 during the air discharge or blowingoperation toprevent backlash will be relieved.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 26 through 30,the air discharge section C is exactly the same as the previouslydescribed section C and the same reference numerals that were used toidentify its compoand as shown in Figure 8,

nent parts used in connection with the form shown in Figures l through25 will be duplicated in the modified form to identify the same parts.

The reel section B is similar in many respects to the reel section B ofthe form shown in Figures 1 through 25 and the component parts thereofwhich are exactly duplicated in the reel section B' will be identifiedby the same reference numerals as those employed in connection with theprior described form of the invention.

The modified form of the invention is a hand powered model in which therewinding operation is accomplished manually thereby eliminating thenecessity for a motor and the parts and transmitting mechanismassociated therewith. Thus in the modified form, the handle and supportsection A is merely an open framework which includes a rearwardlyextending handle 444 and asupport frame, generally indicated at 446integrally formed therewith `and adapted to carry the air discharge orblowing section C and the reel section B thereon in the same relationbetween the sections as in thel motorized form of the invention.

Aside from the elimination of the motor and its associated parts and theredesigning ofthe section A', the principal differences will reside inthe structure of the reel section B.

Since the motion transmission gear'122 is no longer required, the gear168 will be slightly relocated so as to be placed directly under thecenter line of the reel drum to mesh with the gear 170 journaled on thecable drum shaft extension 169. The coupling arrangement by which therotational motion is imparted to the cable drurn 140 by action of thecontrol lever 192 is exactly the same as that described in connectionwith the motor driven model except that the bearing assemlies 148 and150 are reversed so as to be on opposite sidesr of the cable drum shaftfrom that shown in the form of the invention in Figures 1 through 25.The side rim or housing 38 is similar to the side housing 38 but theraised portion 448 thereon defining the gear housing is shaped toroughly correspond to the gears 168" and 170 and includes the controllever shaft and the elements associated therewith. The gear housing 448is provided with an outwardly projecting boss 449 provided with acentral bore 450 therethrough to house a stub shaft 452 therein whichhas a reduced end portion 454 extending beyond the outer surface of theboss 449'so as to receive the handle 456 thereon. The reduced portion454 of the shaft 452 is square in cross section so as to mate with thesquare opening 458 in the central hub portion 460 of the handle 456. Thehandle 456 is secured on the square end 454 of the stub shaft 452 by ascrew 462, as clearly shown in Figure 29. The other end of the stubshaft 452 remote from the end 454 is journaled in a sleeve bearing 464carried in the brass gear holding plate 466 which is carried in spacedparallel relation to the boss 449 and secured thereto by a plurality ofscrews 468, the heads of'which are countersunk in the front face of thegear housing boss 449. That portion of the stub shaft 452 adjacent thesquared end 454 is carried in a cast in brass bushing 470 carried by theboss 449. Thus the stub shaft 452 upon which is secured the driving gear168' is journaled for rotation in the boss 449 adjacent one end andjournaled in the gear rholding Vplate 466 at its other end.

The handle 456 is provided with a pair of substantially diametricallyoppositely extending arms 472 and 474. The end of the arm 474 remotefrom the handle hub 460 has secured thereto a wind-up knob 476 which isrotatably mounted on the screw 478 which secures the knob to the handlearm 474. The end of the handle arm 472 remote-from the hub 460 hasriveted thereto la counterweight 480 to increase the ease with which thehandle 456 may be rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by thearrow in Figure 26, to impart rotation to the driving gear 168'.

A gear cover plate 482 is provided to form the inner side wall of thegear housing 448 andV generally conforms to the shape of the gearhousing or raised portion 448 being secured thereto by a plurality ofcountersunk screws 484 similar to screws 218` shown in Figure 2.

The control lever 192 will be maintained 'in either of the free orpull'positions until moved by the operator by the same positionretaining or locking arrangement employed with the motor driven model asshown in Figure 23 and previously described in connection with thelatter.

With the control lever 192 in the pull position, the coupling meansdefined by the notches 196 and 198 in the end face of thev gear and theridges- 199 and 200 on the side wall 154 of the drum 140 which matestherewith in the manner previously described, will become engaged sothat upon rotation of the handle 456 in a clockwise direction, thedriving gear 168 will mesh With the gear 170 causing rotation thereofand as a consequence, rotation of the drum reel 140. The application ofthe modified form of the invention shown in Figures 26 to 30, isessentially the-same as that of the Vmotor driven model, that is, thenose piece 2 98 willube placed against the end of a conduit so that therubber nose or.ring 306 willvforrn an air seal therewith. The controllever 192 willbe placed in the free position so that the drum 140 willrotate freely except for the drag of the brake means, previouslydescribed in connection with the motor driven model, and the air valvelever 318 will be manually pressed to the on position permittingcompressed air to be discharged through the nose piece 298 and into theconduit so that the rubber ball 374 which has been inserted into theconduit will be projected therethrough to pay out the guide wire orcable 141 into the conduit to which the tool has been applied. In therewinding operation, that is after the free end of the guide wire 141has emerged from the other end of the conduit and has had an electricalconductor secured thereto, the control lever handle 192 will be moved tothe pull position. With the control lever 192 in the pull position, thedrag preventing backlash in the paying out of the guide wire is releasedand the coupling means is engaged so that upon rotation of the handle456 by the right hand of the user while his left hand grips the handle444, will impart rotation to the drum 140 so as to rewind the guidecable or wire 141 to pull the electrical conductor back through theconduit thereby laying the electrical conductor, which may be anelectrical wire or cable, in the conduit.

The principle of operation in both forms is essentially the same, thehand or manually operated model being considerably simpler inconstruction and, of course, capable of more economical manufacture.

In both forms of the invention, there is provided a portable hand toolfor laying an electrical conductor in a kconduit which includes a reelhaving a flexible line wound thereon, a source of power which may beeither motor driven or manual and which will be operatively connected tothe reel and an air discharge section carried by the tool causing saidline to pay out from the reel and into a conduit with the source ofpower operative to rotate the reel or cable drum to rewind the linethereon after it has been payed out into the conduit.

Basically, the portable hand tool of this invention comprises threedetachably secured together sections, in the case of the motor drivenmodel, a handle and motor section A, a reel section B and an airdischarge section C. The reel section B is detachably carried by themotor and handle section A and includes a cable drum 140 which has aflexible line 141 wound thereon, the cable drum 140 defining a windingmeans which will pay out the flexible line 141 in response to theoperation of the air discharge section, and the motor 52 carried in themotor and handle section is operatively connected to the winding means14() so that rewinding the flexible line 141 thereon may be accomplishedby the motor which is operatively connected to the winding means 140through the gear train hereinbefore described. In the manually operatedmodel, the tool comprises a frame and handle section A', a reel sectionB and an air discharge s ection C. The reel section is detachablysecured to and carried by the section A and includes the cable drtun 140mounted for rotation therein having the flexible line 141 wound thereonand section B also includes the source of rotational power, handle 456,and a motion transmission means in the form of gears 168 and 170operatively connecting the winding means 140 to the handle 456 throughits shaft 452 to the winding means 140. The air discharge section C isdetachably secured to the sections A' and B' and detachably carried bysection A.

In the broad sense, in both forms of the invention, there are meansprovided which are operatively connected to the winding means 140 torewind the flexible line thereon after the line has been laid in theconduit by the action of the air discharge section C. In the case of themotor driven form, this means includes the electric motor 52, the

train of gears which define a motion transmission meansl operativelyconnecting the motor tothe winding means,

and in the case of the manually operated form shown in Figures 25through 30, this means includes the handle 456 which is manually rotatedand the gears 168' and 170 constitute the motion transmission meanswhereby the rotation of the handle may beimparted to the winding meansor cable drum so that the flexible line 141 may be rewound upon thewinding means 149 after it has been laid in the conduit by action of theair discharge section C to thereby thread an electrical conductor in theconduit as it is being rewound upon the winding means 140.

Within the concept of this invention is included the use of a compressedair motor section to replace the electric motor section 47 to providemeans operatively connected to the reel drum 140 to impart rotationthereto for rewinding the guide cable 141 payed out during the blowingoperation. The use of a compressed air motor would involve no essentialchange in the design of the motor area or any of the frame or motiontransmission parts with the possible exception of the gear ratiosevolved and gives a purchaser the choice of a motor type best suited tohis purposes. The principaladvantage of the compressed air motor overthe electric motor would be its ready acceptance for use in places Wherethe use of electric motors would be hazardous, such as paint plants, oilrefineries, or other places where highly combustible and easilyinflammable materials are used. The use of an explosive-proof electricmotor would prohibitively increase the cost of the tool in comparisonwith the compressed air motored tool.

While there are shown and described the preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible tochange and modification within the practicability of the invention andtherefore should be limited only by the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A portable hand tool for laying an electrical cable in a conduit,comprising a frame, a hand grip projecting from one end of said frame, areel drum supported on said frame for unwinding movement in onedirection, said reel drum having a guide cable wound thereon with a freeend portion, a guide tube carried by said frame and having an inlet endpositioned adjacent said reel drum and an outlet end positioned adjacentthe other end of said frame for receiving and guiding said guide cableend portion therethrough, air propulsion means carried by said frame andconnected in communication with said guide tube adjacent the outlet endthereof for forcibly propelling said guided cable end portion out of theoutlet end of said tube, and positively driven means operativelyconnected to said reel drum for effecting winding movement of the latterin the other direction.

2. A portable hand tool for laying an electrical cable in a conduit,comprising a frame, a hand grip projecting from one end of said frame, areel drum supported on said frame for unwinding movement in onedirection, said reel drum having a guide cable wound thereon with a freeend portion, a guide tube carried by said frame and having an inlet endpositioned adjacent said reel drum and an outlet end positioned adjacentthe other end of said frame for receiving and guiding said guide cableend portion therethrough, air propulsion means carried by said frame andconnected in communication with said guide tube adjacent the outlet endthereof for forcibly propelling said guided cable end portion out of theoutlet end of said tube, and positively driven means operativelyconnected to said reel drum for effecting winding movement of the latterin the other direction, and means on said hand grip operativelyconnected to said driven means and selectively actuable by the hand ofthe operator for causing said winding movement.

References Cited in the ille of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 10,705 GreatBritain of 1910

